Finally, I have a second to write a new post. Life has just been crazy busy the past month. I'll just write a few things that have been going on. About a month ago I was playing Old Maid with Camryn and some other people, and at the end of the game Camryn said to me, "I'm so glad we didn't get the Old Navy!" I had to laugh. Then a few days later, she said to me "Mom, can we play Old Navy?" You can tell where we like to shop. Camryn also said to us, "It's a lot easier to laugh when you are having fun." I can always count on Camryn to say something to make me smile.

Josh and I had our 8th anniversary. On one hand I can't believe we have been married that long but on the other hand I look at everything we have gone through and all the places and people we have met and I realize it has been eight great years. We started in a tiny basement apartment that only had windows that were like ten inches tall. It was quite the dump. For our anniversary we went to California, without the kids. I have to admit it was strange to spend three days with no children. We were walking along a pier and looking in shops and it was odd to not have to say "come back here," "put that down," "be nice," "no you can't have that," etc. It was fun and when the time came, I was ready to get back to my kids. What can I say, I'm a sucker for snuggles from my baby girl.

We had Thanksgiving in Utah with my family. It was the first Thanksgiving with my family since I was pregnant with Camryn, due to our years in Louisville. It was nice to be together again. Unfortunately, my brother-in-law and nephew both had the stomach flu. Thankfully, we didn't get sick.

Well, we had a successful Halloween. Alexis was Batgirl, Camryn was Supergirl, and Marina was a skunk. I have to admit they were pretty cute. It did not take long for Marina to realize that people were giving her candy and she really got into the whole trick or treat thing. Wed. night she was kind of on a sugar high. She would run around like crazy and occasionally let out a scream. I do love Halloween. A lot of people say Halloween is evil and we shouldn't celebrate it because of the association of Halloween and the devil, but whatever I think Halloween is great. Camryn's preschool teacher made a comment that I agree with. She said that Halloween is America's holiday to celebrate children and to let all children know how much we love them. (although there is a part of me that thinks every holiday is like that)

Back to the issue with Alexis and her friend. Through continued association with girl Alexis has pretty much decided that her friend is really not that great of a friend and the obsession with her is over. They are still friends, but Alexis has told me she doesn't want to go over to her friends house anymore. I think the experience has been good for Alexis because she has discovered what makes a good friend.

On a different note, when we went to Denver in Sept I was introduced to a new drink. Deanna told me about a drink she makes with diet Coke and dr. Pepper and now I am addicted. In our home we have named that drink "the Deanna" so whenever I want one I just tell Josh to go and get me a "Deanna." So thank you Deanna!!

Now that Alexis is getting older we are being confronted with different issues and it is kind of strange. Most of you know that Alexis is really friendly and outgoing so I wasn't too worried about her making new friends here, but I wasn't ready for her to be friends with someone who I didn't really like. Of course Alexis is only six and so are her friends so it's not like a really big issue, but this friend of hers just causes me a little bit of concern. I guess it's because of the mother. She seems nice, but she dresses like a teenager in really short shorts, tight shirts, etc. It wouldn't be that bad if she had the body for it, but she doesn't. The family just looks like the type of family that doesn't place much emphasis on values, morals, etc. Anyways, Alexis's friends seems to try and dominate Alexis and order her around. Also, she tends to tell lies. Well, maybe not intentional lies, but stories about herself that will make her seem cool. For example, Alexis told her that her Grandma lived in Utah and her friend responded by saying her Grandma had lived in Utah 100 times. Obviously that does not make sense. Anyways, I'm just concerned Alexis will learn bad habits from her friend. For example, her friend likes to hold her fist up to people and threaten to punch them and we have noticed Alexis holding her fist up the same way. I've talked to Alexis I guess now I just have to wait and see. On a different note, I was put into the Primary presidency in our ward. It was kind of a shock because I had been in Young Women for so long. I am nervous and excited at the same time. Josh just got put into the Young Men's presidency so we are going to be busy. To change topics once again, the other day Camryn was playing my little ponies and Marina walked up and took the pony Camryn had. Camryn looked at Marina and in a very dramatic fashion said, "oh, Marina, you disappointed me!" I had to laugh.

Great Weekend

We had such a fun, quick weekend! We went to Denver to visit some good friends. The kids had a lot of fun playing with each other. Alexis had a hard time leaving. She cried as we pulled away and continued to cry until I promised her she could write a letter to Miranda. Then she started to calm down. It broke my heart. Poor girl, it's so hard to see your kids in pain. I know it is for me at least. I wish I could just take her sadness away and feel it for her. But alas, that is part of being a parent.

On to a happier subject, we went to a natural history museum on Friday. Camryn loved the museum because she loves dinosaurs. She wants to be a paleontologist when she grows up and find dinosaur bones. It's so cute when she says it because she still has a lisp. On Saturday we went down to Colorado Springs and partied. We went and saw the Garden of the Gods, which is amazing. So here's some pictures from the trip, enjoy!

Here is Alexis with her future husband, at least according to her. He's the one in the middle. The one on the right is his older brother.

Here's the kids at the Garden of the Gods. They loved climbing all over the rocks. Thanks to Ron, Deanna, Scott, and Shelly for the great weekend!!

A Few Thoughts

So here's a new post. I don't really know what to say so I will say whatever comes into my head. Living in a small town is kind of a shock to my system, but at least the people in our ward are great. I went to a Relief Society Book Club a couple of weeks ago and there were a lot of women there and guess what they all read a book except me because I found out about it that day. I have to admit I wasn't used to that. It made me miss the dental school "book club." Anyways, I just felt really young there, not that all the women were older, but most were. It has been difficult for me to get to know people here because I feel so much younger and inexperienced in life. I don't feel I have anything in common with anybody. Especially since I miss the city and most of the people here hate the city. I'll get to know people eventually, it just takes me longer then most people because I have always been shy. I'm actually more comfortable talking in front of a group of people on a subject I have researched then one on one where I have to just come up with conversation. On a different note, I'm so excited for our trip to Denver!! It will be great to see friends and relax for a weekend.

I can't believe it but Marina just turned one. This past year certainly flew by. Seems like she was just born. I remember laying in the hospital with Marina next to me in awe at how tiny, and beautiful she was and still is. Well, we had two parties one on Saturday with my family and then one on her birthday, 9/11, with Josh's fam. She got lots of presents and loved her cake and ice cream. She hesitated at first with the cake, because she didn't know what we were giving her, but once she started she just dug right in!

We were outside pulling weeds the other day, and I looked over at Marina and she was walking around the yard so I kept pulling weeds not realizing a lady walked by with two dogs and Marina took off after her. It took Marina about fifteen seconds to make it across the yard and into the street. Josh was mowing the lawn and ran after her. Good thing cuz Marina would have followed that lady and her dogs all the way home. Marina loves dogs and cats. Whenever she hears a dog bark she stops whatever she is doing and looks around saying, "da un, da un!" On a different note, I need some ideas, our anniversary is coming up in November and we want to go somewhere fun, but we can't really think of where. We are thinking a three or four day trip so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

This is Josh trying to make it back over the river at the Sinks in Lander. The Sinks is where the river goes under the mountain and disappears. The river comes back up about half a mile down the road. Where the river goes under the mountain it makes a cave and Josh decided to cross the river and see how far he could see down the cave. Of course, my brother in law, Brandon had to follow him and they both almost fell in. Brandon did slip and his leg got all wet. Boys, will be boys what else can I say?

1. Where did you meet your husband?

We met on Washington Blvd. in Ogden, Utah. I will admit it, I was cruising the 'vard at 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday night. I pulled up to a stoplight and Josh was sitting there in his eclipse. He asked me to race, and noticed I had a flat tire and asked me if I knew how to change it. I said no, so he changed it for me and then asked for my phone number.

2. What is the first thing you said to your husband?

Josh asked me to race and I said, "Are you serious? My Ford Escort against that?" He was driving a turbo Mitsubishi Eclipse and I was driving a very slow Ford.

3. Where was your first date?

We started our first date at the Pie Pizzeria where I ordered the biggest Coke they had. Josh later told me he was impressed that I wasn't being a typical girl by ordering water and a salad. Then we went to a Weber State hockey game. It was my first hockey game and I was hooked. I have loved watching hockey ever since. Then we went back to my house and watched a movie. I had a lot of fun and I believe Josh did too.

4. Where was your first kiss?

Our first kiss was actually on our first date. It was on a couch at my parents house. I have to take the credit as the one who initiated. I have to say that I think Josh was surprised because it was our first date. Of course, perhaps I should be a little ashamed because it was our first date.

5. Did you have a long or short engagement/courtship?

We started dating in Jan of 1999. We went out about three or four times then quit dating for a couple of months. Then we started hanging out together again in May. We started seriously dating at the beginning of June and we became engaged on Sept. 11. I remember because it was a week before my birthday. A lot of people think our engagement was short but I think it was just right. We were married on Nov. 4. So we were engaged for about a month and a half.

6. Where did you get engaged?

At my parents house. Josh had been telling me for a week he bought me something for our three month anniversary (I had never dated anyone longer than three months so it was kind of major that we were still dating). Anyways, Josh had called my Dad to ask for permission to marry me earlier that day. My parents at the time were at the racetrack and my Dad could hardly hear Josh so after Josh asked him a couple times he understood and although he was dumbfounded he gave his permission. So that night Josh gave me a package and when I opened it it was a pair of old shoes. Then he pulled the ring out of his pocket and asked me to marry him. We have the whole thing on tape, because my family was there. I have to admit I expected the present to be a ring.

7. Where were you married?

We were married at the Bountiful Temple. I went to the Bountiful Temple open house when I was around 11 or 12 and when I walked through the Sealing Rooms I thought they were beautiful and made a goal then to be married there. Josh didn't really care which temple so I got to decide.

8. How did the reception go?

The reception was fine. We had it at a church in Layton, Utah. The reception was long. We didn't get to eat hardly anything and we were both starving. We put chairs behind us in the reception line and had plates of food on them and when there was a break in the line we would grab a bite to eat. The only bad part was that I didn't get to eat any of my wedding cake. We cut the cake and there were more people to see and by the time I had a moment the cake was pretty much gone and so was the time. It was already an hour past our scheduled time and so we just left. But other then that our reception was great! We had a second reception at Josh's parents house in Lander Wyoming the next day.

9. How was the honeymoon?

The honeymoon went great. We went to Thermopolis Wy. We got married on a Thursday, had our reception in Utah that night, and a reception in Lander, Wy on Friday. Since we both were in school at the time we had to be back to Utah on Tuesday so we spent the weekend in Wy. We went to Thermopolis because it has one of the largest natural mineral hot springs in the world and it was close. Our first hotel was terrible. It was old, the remote to the tv had to be picked up at the front desk, there was no bathtub and the shower leaked out into the bathroom. We left after the first night and went to the Holiday Inn, which was much better. We plan on taking a second honeymoon for our 10th anniversary, a longer one.

Okay, I'm done. I'm tagging Michelle and Amy.